Town: Upgrades To Parks Worth Cost
Written by Ronald Scaglia, rscaglia@antonnews.com Friday, 01 February 2013 00:00
It may only be January, but the upcoming November election already appears to be on the mind of Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto. At a recent board meeting, the supervisor defended the decision to spend millions of dollars to upgrade town parks and facilities.
“Every level of government is suffering,” remarked Venditto about the fiscal woes faced by municipalities. “Having said that, in some municipalities the infrastructure has not been addressed. This [the renovations to town facilities] is going to protect our infrastructure and quality of life. Just remember that when fall comes around and people are shooting arrows at us.”
The town has been dealing with budget shortfalls, which Venditto has blamed on the recent recession. Standard and Poor’s has lowered its long-term bond rating for the town. Because of the town’s finances, challengers will likely raise the issue of spending the money to upgrade town parks during the next campaign.
The issue arose when a resident thanked board members for their decision to upgrade town facilities. The resident said that town parks give the town’s youth a nice place to play which she said is especially important because of the increase in bullying.
Also, a public hearing was held to consider the 2013 Fire Protection Agreement between the town and its fire districts. No residents spoke at the public hearing. However, both Venditto and Councilman Joe Pinto expressed their gratitude for the service of firefighters.
“For a large part, they’re the reason the Town of Oyster Bay is such as a safe place to live,” said Venditto. The supervisor also recalled his mother’s house being on fire, and while he grabbed the dog and his mother grabbed her checkbook, both ran away from the fire while firefighters ran towards it, without knowing what perils they might be rushing to.
“I have a heartfelt feeling to our fireman,” said Pinto. “After my son was born, there we three or four times that if they hadn’t responded, I don’t know what would have happened.”
Dr. Natalia Appenzeller, Clinical Director of the Fay J. Lindner Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities, thanked the board for its assistance in conducting the 5th Annual Town of Oyster Bay Walk for Autism this past September. According to Appenzeller, this year’s event raised almost $7,000 for their efforts to meet the needs of children and adults with autism and related developmental disabilities.
A Syosset resident spoke to the board and appealed for a long-term solution to the issue of noise coming from the town’s Department of Public Works facility located at 150 Miller Place in Syosset. Stephen Meyers, who says he represents about 600 homeowners in the area who are disturbed by the sound of constant beeps which come from construction trucks within the facility. The beeps are a warning signal that the truck is going in reverse.
Meyers is calling on the town to put up a highway wall to muffle some of the sound or hire a signal person so that trucks may have the reverse warning beep turned off.
John Venditto said he would look into the issue although a town official cautioned him that the town’s leverage in getting vendors who use the facility to cooperate is diminished because of the economy.
News
Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00
Navy SEAL killed in crash was top student athlete
Jonathan Kaloust, a 23-year-old Navy SEAL who hailed from Massapequa, lost his life last Wednesday in a freak Humvee crash during a training exercise in Fort Knox, Ky.
A 2007 graduate of Massapequa High School and standout wrestler, Kaloust was recruited to Binghamton University, where he continued to wrestle while pursuing a political science degree.
Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00
Increased service will save local
commuters up to 40 minutes a day
A $40-million construction project, designed to modernize the Massapequa Station at Sunrise Highway (Route 27), just east of Broadway and Route 107, was announced by the Metropolitan Transit Authority and the Long Island Railroad. The station renovations are part of a multi-phase initiative to improve infrastructure and train service at the station that serves approximately 6,000 customers every weekday.
The first phase is scheduled to begin on May 29, and the improvements are scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2015. Over the next two years, the rehabilitation project will include the sorely needed replacement of the station platform and canopy, heated platform waiting room, escalator, elevator and staircases, pedestrian walkway over Broadway, public address system, plus the addition of signage, energy-efficient platform lighting, and a decorative granite wall adjacent to ticket office. The railroad is also starting work on the installation of a pocket track just east of the station that will significantly improve train service and frequency, as well as on-board seat availability.
Sports
Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00
The U.S. Tennis Association Long Island Region has recognized Michelle Carnovale of Massapequa for her tennis playing in 2012. Michelle was honored for her ranking in the Girls’ 14s on Long Island.
With more than 9,000 members, the Region promotes the growth and development of Long Island tennis and supports USTA programs including Jr. Team Tennis, National Junior Tennis and Learning, High School Tennis, College Tennis, USTA 10 and Under Tennis, USTA League Tennis, and community tennis.
The volunteer-based Board of Directors works with USTA members to create programs and activities for all the tennis players on Long Island, from small children to seniors. For more information, visit www.longisland.usta.com or email ustaonlongisland@gmail.com.
Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00
Last Wednesday the Massapequa Observer A’s had a come-from-behind victory 5-2 over the Trial Lawyer Mets, powered by key hits from Ray Anzelone, Michael Grisanti, and Jason Kopp. Evan “Mariano” Barrow came in again with no outs and the bases loaded to pick up the save.
On Saturday, the Observer A’s beat the Kleer Fax Yankees 4-2. The A’s were down 1-0 into the 4th inning due to an RBI single by Ross Mitton of the Yankees. Anthony Patullo drove in two runs with an RBI triple to give the A’s a 2-1 lead. This was followed by Brendan Castonguay driving in two runs with a double to make the score 4-1. Patullo pitched three solid innings in the start with Castonguay pitching the final three innings for the win.
Calendar
Marine Corps Barbecue
Monday, May 27
Wantagh Preservation Society Meeting
Tuesday, May 28
America’s Boating Course
Tuesday, May 28
Columns
Moving Pictures
Written by Mike Barry, MFBarry@optonline.net
Private Power Isn’t Our Only Option
Written by Michael A. Miller, Millercolumn@optimum.net
Building Better Legislators
Written by Michael A. Miller, Millercolumn@optimum.net
